Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any steps her Department is taking to improve the safety of horse riders and horses on public roads.
Minister for Infrastructure: Road safety for horse riders is included within Share The Road to Zero, the Department’s Road Safety Engagement Programme where messaging is issued about the safety of vulnerable road users and rural roads. Road safety messaging on vulnerable road users is provided routinely via Share the Road to Zero channels, most recently over the Easter holidays.
A specific campaign on road safety around horses is scheduled in the coming weeks as more horses and their riders will be on the roads enjoying the better weather. This will consist of a newsletter and supporting social media posts. The newsletter is issued to 30,000 subscribers – https://www.sharetheroadtozero.com/horse-sense-for-riders-and-motorists.
In addition, for the last number of years my Department has supported the British Horse Society’s ‘Dead Slow’ Campaign by sharing their campaign materials on our social media channels.
Advertising priorities are determined by evidence and statistics relating to the main causation factors behind people being Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI). Campaigns are therefore commissioned in areas where data indicates they will have the greatest impact in reducing KSIs.
Information on Road Safety for Horse riders and Horses is available on nidirect: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/horse-safety-road.
My officials have produced a Road Safety Education leaflet in collaboration with the British Horse Society and is also available on nidirect: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/horse-sense-riders-and-motorists-leaflet.
ENDS
Your MLA 